Monthly Archives: February 2014

Wednesday’s Parent: 6 Circus lessons for balancing the budget

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6 Circus lessons for balancing the budget. Photo by WendyDavid-Gaines

6 Circus lessons for balancing the budget. Photo by WendyDavid-Gaines

Many kids and parents are fans of the circus. They marvel at the skills of the aerialists, acrobats and animal tamers. They laugh at the antics of the clowns, consume tasty treats and watch the sideshows. There are also powerful financial lessons that may be learned from these performers to help teens learn about managing money.

Many of the college-bound and their parents are about to take on huge college expenses while trying to maintain a certain life-style and prepare for a future one. There will be a host of new purchase opportunities for an already lean wallet. If a house is on the future acquisition list, student debt may prevent the plan. Read Naughty and nice solutions to cut college costs and increase home ownership for more details.

Use these six questions packed into vivid images to start a serious discussion to teach your teen about money management:

  1. When it comes to balancing your budget, are you a juggler or a tight rope walker? Show your child how to create and use a budget by listing expenses and income.
  2. When it comes to spending money, are you the Master of Ceremonies or a clown? Explain the realities of living within one’s means based on their budget compared to a foolish fantasy without a safety net.
  3. When it comes to making decisions, will you choose cotton candy or unbuttered popcorn? Life is about choices including what to spend money on. Parents may help their kids understand how to include occasional splurges into normal routines and still be nutritionally and financially healthy.
  4. When it comes to preparing for your future, are you the lion or the lion tamer? Most teens live in the present but focusing on the future is a great way to prepare the college-bound for what’s to come. Teach your child the benefits of controlling their own finances rather than having debt decide for them.
  5. When it comes to saving for something special, are you the sideshow’s Strong man or the whole three-ring circus? Teach your child how to prioritize financial goals to achieve them one at a time or they may spread themselves too thin and not focus on any well.
  6. When it comes to financial security, are you an acrobat or an aerialist? Both are strong, have great timing and get the job done. The message parents may teach is these are the skills needed to achieve a student’s financial dreams.

For more budgeting tips for teens before college check out Suzanne’s blog:  Wednesday’s Parent: A Crash Course in Money Management 

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Suzanne Shaffer and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from www.pocsmom.com to http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/ and vice versa.

Wednesday’s Parent: 7 deadly sins, teen style

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7 deadly sins, teen style, Photo by Wendy David-Gaines

7 deadly sins, teen style, Photo by Wendy David-Gaines

Teenagers may feel powerfully invincible but they are vulnerable to human weaknesses just like us parents. Teens wear their growing independence on their sleeves and yearn to try on adult experiences. This is a dangerous combination when it comes to teens and the seven deadly sins because it may lead to abuse and harm.

Here are the seven deadly sins as related to teens and how parents may help:

Gluttony Certain things are legally off-limits to minors such as alcohol and smoking but that may only add to an almost adult’s curiosity. Parents may supplement school health classes by modeling healthy behaviors, establishing clear behavior standards, and being frank about the dangers of substance abuse. If you suspect a problem is developing, it is best to seek professional help ASAP.

Sloth Does sleeping until noon on weekends, hard to awaken on school days, forgetting chores, being surly and procrastinating describe your teen? If so, you are not alone. Many healthy teens need more sleep than they are getting and science tells us the optimum wake up time is later than most schools start classes. Parents may help by teaching organization and time management skills so busy teens may complete their to-do list without sacrificing needed rest.

Envy Peer pressure is huge and it is ironic that teens are most susceptible to it at the very time they are asserting their own independence. Although Groucho Marx joked, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member,” teens may feel jealous and resentful if they are rejected by their peers. Help your child recognize his valuable individuality by expanding his horizons beyond school boundaries with other clubs, activities and events filled with more opportunities to meet peers with corresponding interests.

Lust Teen hormones are often in high gear which may result in sexting, selfies and sex. Parents may reinforce that social media images are lasting and the ramifications of intimate relationships.

Greed Most teens love tech and all the pricey devices that use it from communication to gaming. This is a great time for teaching about finances and the difference between needs and wants.

Wrath Bullying is a terrifying behavior and should never be tolerated. There are many resources in and out of school that parents and teens may use. Wrath is difficult for adults to control (think road rage) so a teen bully or bullied teen should not be expected to handle the situation alone.

Pride Self-esteem is a big teen issue and too much or too little is equally problematic. There are many social and academic events during the teen years that impact a teen’s self-image such as the prom, school awards, applying and getting into college. Parents may be the voice of reason, balance and objectivity to put things into perspective for their children caught in the all or nothing teen drama.

Check out Suzanne’s blog When Just Saying “NO” Is Not Enough for what to do next.

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Suzanne Shaffer and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from www.pocsmom.com to http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/ and vice versa.

Wednesday’s Parent: 7 Shakespearean steps to good decision-making

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7 Shakespearean steps to good decision-making in the park by Wendy David-Gaines

7 Shakespearean steps to good decision-making in the park by Wendy David-Gaines

Life is full of choices and the quality of life depends on the quality of those decisions. One of a parents’s major responsibilities is to teach good decision-making skills to their children. With this ability, students are able to make good NOUN choices – the ones about people, places and things.

Soon your child will be choosing where to apply to college, what he will major in, who she will choose as friends, who he will marry, and where she will live and work after graduation.

Taking parenting advice from Shakespeare’s timeless quotes, here are seven steps to making good decisions:

1. “Past and to come seem best; things present worst.” King Henry the Fourth, Part II  It’s normal to be stressed when faced with an important decision. Take a deep breath and go to your mental happy place to put everything into perspective before making a decision.

2. “This is the short and long of it.” The Merry Wives of Windsor  The first step in making a good decision is to clearly list the options.

3. “There is occasions and causes why and wherefore in all things.” King Henry the Fifth  Weigh the options carefully by considering pros and cons for each choice.

4. “Thou art a scholar: speak to it Horatio.” Hamlet  Seek advice from experts and those who have dealt with similar experiences when needed. (Don’t forget to let your child know you are a great resource – a parent available to listen and advise, when asked.)

5. “Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” Measure for Measure  Doubts and second guessing are common. Don’t let them press you into procrastinating or preventing the making of a final decision.

6. “Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Twelfth-Night  Once a choice is selected, commit to it, make the most of it and move forward.

7. “What’s past is prologue.” The Tempest  All decisions have consequences and the future is filled with possibilities. Be ready to follow this Shakespearean plan all over again to make the next choice.

There are many other fine quotes from Shakespeare and others to inspire good decision-making. Let me know your favorites.

Jump over to Suzanne’s blog chock full of more parent tips to teach teens how to make good decisions.

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Suzanne Shaffer and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from www.pocsmom.com to http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/ and vice versa.

Wednesday’s Parent: Taking college prep action

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Take College prep action. Photo by Wendy David-Gaines

Take College prep action. Photo by Wendy David-Gaines

It should be contradictory that when there’s lots to do, inertia can set in. Where college prep is concerned Newton’s Law: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, explains it perfectly. So when stress and uncertainty overwhelm your student to the point of a work slowdown, it’s time to reassess.

It’s all about getting a student’s game plan on track. This requires inspiration to motivate and fun to get vested in the process. It’s about getting back to the basics for a love of learning but with a targeted goal.

Here’s the college prep action plan:

1. Brainstorm Start by brainstorming a wish list of interests. What one thing would your student enjoy learning now and what would she like to do with the knowledge? It could be finding something new or reinventing an old passion. If she loves to read perhaps your daughter would like to become fluent in a foreign language to read an untranslated version of a special book? If your son is a science fiction fan, perhaps he would enjoy learning about robotics? Or perhaps your child is a puzzle solver ready to do some research to find answers?

2. Match Next, match the interest to an academic subject. Is there a school class, club,  extracurricular activity, professional association or local college that can help your student develop his interest? Also encourage your student to speak with a school counselor, academic advisor or teacher for suggestions.

3. Act Divide the goal into steps that must first be attained. It’s easier to manage, more satisfying to see progress and a great way to record this learning adventure. Success is a great motivator so celebrate each accomplished action before taking the next step.

With a renewed excitement for learning and a demonstrated interest, students are ready to go for a higher level of education, search for colleges they connect with and score well on standardized tests. To tackle these additional college prep tasks, students may use this 3 easy step college-bound time management plan. 

Check out Suzanne’s blog for how NOT to motivate college prep action.

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Suzanne Shaffer and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from www.pocsmom.com to  http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/ and vice versa.